Sunday, May 8, 2016

Troy Mentzer, Fought Himself - 10

What the catcher's coach at Kansas University believed Mentzer needed was confidence, the coach told The Journal-World.

"I BELIEVE in talent," KU coach Dave Bingham told The Journal-World
in March 1988. "Troy Mentzer is a tremendously talented young man. He
fights himself sometimes, and when he does, that hurts him. He needs
somebody to show him confidence, and that's what I'm trying to do."

Bingham showed Mentzer enough confidence for Mentzer to turn pro, signed by the Giants in 1989 as a free agent. Mentzer, though, apparently never showed enough confidence for a long career. His career lasted just 29 games, all played the year he signed.

Before turning pro, Mentzer played at Allen Community College in Kansas, then Kansas University. He bypassed a selection by the Phillies in 1987, but instead turned to Kansas.

Arriving at Kansas, Mentzer was called Bingham's "most impressive recruit," The Journal-World nothing Mentzer had hit .406, with 13 home runs the previous year at Allen.